The first month of the MLB season is underway and the Orioles are off to a good start! I will keep the introduction short so we can look at Part 3 of the Billy Martin saga, managing the New York Yankees. Sure hope you have found a look at this fascinating character interesting.
After being fired in August 1975 by the Texas Rangers, it only took two weeks for Billy to land his dream job. George Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees, was at the time suspended by the MLB for making illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon. Gabe Paul was the acting head of the franchise but Steinbrenner, whose constant meddling in the day-to-day operations could not be controlled even under suspension, instructed Paul to hire Martin. Billy spent the remaining month of the 1975 season evaluating the team to see who would be kept and who would be traded away or released.
Martin worked with Paul to overhaul the team with the players that he wanted. The 1976 season began and soon Billy had the Yankees looking like the marquee franchise of the league again. He kept his legendary temper in check and enjoyed the most trouble-free season of his career. The Yankees ran away with the AL East title, finishing a whopping 11 games in front of Baltimore. The Bronx Bombers took on Kansas City in a best of 5 game series for the AL pennant. New York won the 1st game and KC took two of the next three. In the decisive Game 5, Martin started Ed Figueroa. Ed had not pitched well for weeks but Billy stuck with him. The Yankees were cruising along in the 8th inning, winning 6-3 when future Hall of Famer George Brett hit a 3-run homer to tie the game.
Martin yelled at his stunned team from the dugout to pick their heads up and concentrate. In the bottom of the 9th, Chris Chambliss hit the first pitch for a home run and the Yankees were AL Champions on their way to the World Series. It was the first appearance since 1964 and Martin’s first pennant as a manager. In the 1976 World Series, the Yankees faced the Big Red Machine from Cincinnati at the height of their powers. The Reds swept the Yankees in four straight games and Billy became the first manager in New York history to be ejected after rolling a baseball at an umpire like he was a bowling pin to show his displeasure at the strike zone.
In 1977, Steinbrenner’s suspension was over and he was eager to step in and sign the best free agent available, Reggie Jackson. If you remember from last month’s article. Reggie and Billy had to be restrained from punching each other after Martin ordered his pitcher to throw a ball near his head. Jackson was supremely talented at hitting baseballs over the fence and knew it. The Yankee owner took Jackson out to fine restaurants and walked him through Manhatten where fans pleaded with him to become a Yankee. Reggie’s ego was immense, to say the least, and the adoration from Steinbrenner and all the attention he would get as a New York Yankee convinced him to sign a contract for 1977. Martin did not want Reggie Jackson, who he felt was not a team-first player and was only concerned about his stats. Billy also was angered by the attention Jackson got from the owner. He wasn’t even invited for lunch after taking the team to the World Series the previous year and felt slighted. The Yankees started the year losing 6 of the first 8 games.
Steinbrenner called a meeting with Martin and told him he was on borrowed time if he didn’t turn things around. Martin had never been in a situation where he was unable to discipline a player, Jackson, because of the owner and he complained that Steinbrenner was not only hands-on but had a stranglehold on him. The pressure of dealing with Reggie’s ego and the constant threat of being fired drove Billy back to drowning his sorrows in alcohol. The situation also hindered how he managed the team. An explosion was inevitable for such a volatile person like Martin and it happened on the Saturday NBC Game of the Week. The columnist, who was eight at the time, was watching the game with my grandfather after a hard morning of yard work. Jackson, who was playing right field, loafed after a ball hit his way and the hitter took advantage and kept running to second. Martin, whose entire career as a player and a manager centered on hustle and making every play count, was incensed. He immediately sent out Paul Blair to replace Reggie in the middle of the inning. Jackson was humiliated and said something to Martin upon reaching the dugout. This sent Billy over the edge and he went after Reggie to punch him and was restrained by two of his coaches. All of this was happening on the nationally televised game. My grandfather was laughing and yelling at the coaches to turn Billy loose! Steinbrenner wanted to fire Martin immediately after the game but was talked out of it. Reggie Jackson never loafed after a batted ball again.
In August, Martin finally relented and started batting Reggie 4th in the cleanup position and the Yankees went on a tear to once again make it to the World Series. In Game 1, Martin replaced Jackson late in the game for defensive purposes. This angered him and after the Game 2 win by the Yankees, the two had a heated discussion that Steinbrenner inserted himself into, telling Billy that if they lost the World Series, he would be fired. Thurmon Munson, the catcher whom Reggie had feuded with all season, mockingly called him Mr. October. The Series went back to New York for Game 6 and the Yankees only needed one more win to secure the championship. Jackson struck out his first at-bat but then proceeded to hit three consecutive home runs on just three pitches.
The last home run to dead center field in Yankee Stadium was one of the longest ever in the stadium. After the third home run, guess who was the first person to greet him with a big hug? That’s right, Billy Martin. Jackson still signs his autographs as Mr October. The Yankees won the game and Billy Martin won his first and only World Series as a manager and added a 6th championship ring to his collection to go along with the 5 while playing for the Yankees. After the game, Steinbrenner gave him a contract extension and a bonus. Billy had won a World Series, however, the stress of the year had certainly taken its toll. I hope everyone is ready for part 4 next month…… I only get 1200 words a month! I will leave you with another Billy Martin quote. “I may not have been the best Yankee to put on the pinstripes, but I am the proudest.”
